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Internationalizing the user interface</TITLE>
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<A NAME="X-REF355757285"></A><h1>Internationalizing the user interface</h1>
<A NAME="TI6049"></A><p>When you build an application for international deployment,
there are two user interface design issues you should consider: <A NAME="TI6050"></A>
<ul>
<li class=fi>The physical design of the
user interface</li>
<li class=ds>The cultural standards of your application's
audience
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<A NAME="TI6051"></A><h4>Physical design</h4>
<A NAME="TI6052"></A><p>The physical design of the user interface should include:</p>
<A NAME="TI6053"></A><p><A NAME="TI6054"></A>
<ul>
<li class=fi>Windows and objects
with the flexibility to accommodate expanded string lengths required
when the text in menu items, lists, and labels is translated <br>
For example, you could inherit a window from an English language ancestor
window, and change the language for a localized deployment. Generally,
you can accommodate the text for most languages if you allow for
a menu item, list, or label size that is 1.3 times the length of
an English text string. <br></li>
<li class=ds>Windows that can be easily used in RightToLeft versions
of Windows
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<A NAME="TI6055"></A><h4>Cultural awareness</h4>
<A NAME="TI6056"></A><p>The cultural design of your user interface requires you to
be cognizant of what is and is not acceptable or meaningful to your
audience.</p>
<A NAME="TI6057"></A><p>For example, an icon of a hand displaying an open palm might
mean stop in one culture but indicate an unacceptable gesture in
another. Similarly, although the color yellow signifies caution
in some cultures, in other cultures it signifies happiness and prosperity.</p>

